Cheriene Marchus a write-in candidate

Steamboat Springs  Routt County receptionist Cheriene Marchus is a write-in candidate for the District 2 county commissioner seat in the November election.

The deadline for becoming a write-in candidate is today.

Cheriene Marchus, a registered Republican, is married to Mark Marchus, the county's former chief building official who ran as a Republican in the primary elections for the District 2 seat.

Mark Marchus lost the primary election to candidate Jeff Fry, who will challenge incumbent Democrat Doug Monger, and now write-in candidate Cheriene Marchus, in November.

Cheriene Marchus works as a receptionist for the county and could not be reached for comment Wednesday. She turned in her form to be a write-in candidate Tuesday.

Routt County Clerk Kay Weinland said that having a write-in candidate for a county commissioner seat is not typical.

"I can't remember a write-in for county commissioner," Weinland said.

When there is a write-in candidate, a blank line is left on the ballot for voters to write in a name.

As long as the name is spelled more or less correctly and the intent of the voter is clear, the vote counts toward the write-in candidate, Weinland said. Names of people who are not certified write-in candidates are not counted.

Any resident who fulfills the requirements to run for office, such as being a registered voter and a resident of the district, can be a write-in candidate.

It's up to the candidate to let residents know that he or she is running for election, Weinland said.

There are two county commissioner races this November. In addition to the District 2 race, incumbent Republican Nancy Stahoviak will face Libertarian candidate Mike Kien for the District 1 seat.